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Abstract:

A two step process of light manipulation to obtain an even toned linear
light from point sources of light. This process obtained by taking evenly
space particular point sources of light (element A) delivering
essentially 100% of their light into the side of an adjacent clear rod
(element B). The light turns 90 degrees and travels down the clear rod
(element B) in what is called a "waveguide" effect. Adjacent and parallel
to A and 90 degrees turned from B is element C, a diffusing rod like
member. A, B and C form a triad with A and C in separate contact with B.
A and C oriented more or less 90 degrees to each other with B as the
pivot point. The triad of A, B and C are contained in a channel where
only C sticks out half way. Light from B illuminates C which finishes
evening out the light and delivers the final bright even tone of light
beyond the containing channel thru the exposed portion of element C.

Claims:

1. An illumination device for simulating neon lighting, comprising:a
series of light sources spaced evenly in a linear fashion;a substantially
clear optical waveguide of a predetermined length adjacent to the light
sources with the light sources aiming more or less directly into the rod,
the vast majority of light entering the substantially clear optical
waveguide in the first step of the process;a light diffusing member of a
predetermined length, with light receiving and light emitting surfaces
where the light receiving surface is adjacent to the waveguide and is
oriented approximately 90 degrees to the linear oriented light sources,
said diffusing member receiving its light from the waveguide as the
second step in the process;these three elements forming a triad where the
light sources, waveguide and the back portion of the diffusing member are
contained as said triad in an open faced channel with the light emitting
surface of the diffusing member protruding from the channel which
ultimately emits an essentially even neon like tone of light along the
longitudinal axis of the illumination device.

2. The illumination device in claim 1, wherein a fluorescent dyed member
is added between the light sources and the substantially clear waveguide
member, this fluorescent dyed member converting a portion of the light
from the light source to a different wavelength to the effect that the
hue of light that emits from the emitting surface of the illumination
device is different from that that emits from the light source.

3. The illumination device in claim 1, where the light source is plurality
of light emitting diodes.

4. The illumination device in claim 1, where the open faced channel has
opaque walls.

5. The illumination device in claim 1, where the open faced channel has
inside surfaces that are reflective.

6. The illumination device in claim 1, where the open faced channel has
outside surfaces that are opaque.

7. The illumination device in claim 2, where the light source is plurality
of light emitting diodes.

8. The illumination device in claim 2, where the open faced channel has
opaque walls.

9. The illumination device in claim 2, where the open faced channel has
inside surfaces that are reflective.

10. The illumination device in claim 2, where the open faced channel has
outside surfaces that are opaque

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The present invention is an illumination device that combines side
aiming point sources of light that illuminate a waveguiding clear rod
which in turn illuminates a light diffusing waveguide to deliver a neon
like bright even tone of linear light in a very compact shape.

[0002]The starting point has been to create a bright even tone of light
like neon lighting without the downfalls of neon. Neon lighting is made
by passing an electric current thru a gas filled glass tube exciting the
electrons and creating the neon light effect. It has been around for
about 90 years and has had relatively few improvements. Some of its
desirable attributes are its long life, even round 360 degree view light
tone, even tone as viewed from any angle, the ability to factory bend the
glass to create a practically unlimited range of text and images for the
signage industry. Some of its negative attributes are the breakability of
the glass, its difficulty to ship without breaking, its very high voltage
(8,000 to 15,000 volts) that is difficult to safely contain, its tendency
to cause building fires, the presence of environmentally unfriendly
mercury in the tubes and the higher cost of energy to operate.

[0003]The enduring popularity of neon's bright, even round line of light
has spawned many attempts to create alternate methods to the same end.
Two different families of light emitting devices that might lend
themselves to this goal are flat even sources of light such as
electroluminescent tape, or a string of point sources of light that have
their light evened out before emitting from the fixture. Each has its
challenges. A particularly useful lighting device for use in the string
of point sources of light approach is the Light Emitting Diode (LED).
Some good but incomplete progress has been made in this goal of a bright,
even and economically viable linear light it the spirit of neon as shown
in U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,238, U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,979, U.S. Pat. No.
7,011,421 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,366 B2

[0004]The current invention has learned from and these previous efforts
and endeavors to branch out into new territory by creating a new smaller
profile even toned linear light system. The current invention has
succeeded in cutting in half the height of the state of the art profile
as defined in the referenced patents and still maintain the even bright
linear light effect. This is no small accomplishment. As an option this
current invention can include a color conversion of light system. In this
system the light emitted from the illumination device to the outside is
of a different wavelength of the light emitted from the light source
inside the illumination device.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 9 shows a section of the illumination device showing the light
from the light sources entering the clear waveguide.

[0006]FIG. 10 shows the light from the clear waveguide enter the diffusing
rod.

[0007]FIG. 11 shows the introduction of a color converting element into
the system.

[0008]FIG. 12 shows the triad nature of the illumination device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009]FIGS. 9 thru 11 show sectional views of exemplary illumination
devices 10 made in accordance with the present invention reflecting a two
step light manipulation process to attain even toned linear light from
point sources of light. First light is emitted form a particularly shaped
light source, one that is small in size and that directs all its light as
a spread in one direction. In the current drawings we are showing a
surface mounted Light Emitting Diode (LED) 14 that has the emitting chip
imbedded in a cube shaped opaque ceramic cup that directs all the light
out in an approximate 120 degree field off of one face of the six sided
cube. No light goes backward or sideways. The LEDs are mounted at regular
intervals on an electrical circuit 13 that maintains their positions in
an organized linear fashion. The mounted LEDs are then pressed against a
clear more or less round rod 25 that has been cut or extruded flat on one
side so that there is essentially 100% contact between the LEDs and the
rod. To be precise, the lit face of the LEDs is pressed against the
flattened face of the essentially round rod. This is important because we
want essentially 100% of the light 26 from the LEDs to enter the rod 25.
If light were to leak out to the sides it would diminish the
effectiveness of the invention in that it would increase the likelihood
of visible hot spots of light on the final emitting surface of the
device. As a side note it is possible to add flanges to the edges of the
flattened side of the rod to assure a proper line up of the LEDs to the
rod.

[0010]We have established that essentially 100% of the light 26 from the
LED has now entered the clear rod. Due to the nature of how light acts
when it enters such structures a good portion of the light will stay in
the rod and travel horizontally in what is described as waveguiding. Of
course some of the light passes thru the rod to the reflective surface 15
of the containment channel wall behind the rod. Some of that light
bounces back into the waveguiding rod. This effect adds a measurable
amount of light to the whole system. This bounce back effect also adds an
additional lateral light diffusing effect to enhance the goal of even
light. The intensity of light contained in the rod is very evident in lab
experiments. If one were to look down into the channel with the diffusing
rod 11 removed one would see a very bright waveguiding clear rod. One
would also clearly see the light from each LED 26 in the clear rod
waveguide as it enters the clear rod. In essence one sees primarily
waveguided light not diffused light. This is the first step. The second
step is to place a diffusing rod like element 11 adjacent to and above
the clear rod 25. It is best if the clear rod and diffusing rod are in
contact. The light in the clear rod 27 makes its way into the diffusing
rod like member 11 in a fairly evenly distributed fashion and then the
diffusing rod finishes the evening out job finally delivering a final
even tone of linear light 28 in a very compact shape with a height to
width ratio of approximately 1.6/1.

[0011]FIG. 12--to review: Evenly space particular point sources of light
(element A) deliver essentially 100% of their light into the side of an
adjacent clear rod (element B). The light turns 90 degrees and travels
down the clear rod (element B) in what is called a "waveguide" effect.
Adjacent and parallel to A and 90 degrees turned from B is element C, a
diffusing rod like member. A, B and C form a triad with A and C in
separate contact with B. A and C oriented 90 degrees to each other with B
as the pivot point. The triad of A, B and C are contained in a reflective
channel where only C sticks out half way. Light from B illuminates C
which finishes evening out the light and delivers the final visible
bright even tone of light beyond the containing channel.

[0012]Some of the materials one may use to assemble this illumination
device are as follows: [0013]The clear rod like optical waveguide can
be clear acrylic rod of varying diameters, perhaps 3/16'' dia. This
material is commonly available in most hobby stores. No specific mfgr is
preferred. [0014]The diffusing rod material can be obtained from AtoUaas,
Philadelphia, Pa. with the product frosted #DR66080. [0015]An appropriate
surface mounted light emitting diode could be a #LM1-AHR1-01-N1 EP RED
obtained from Marktech Optoelectronics in Latham, N.Y.

SUMMARY

[0016]In summary we have a close packed triad of three unique elements,
housed in a channel, that have very different forms and functions. When
these clearly defined forms and functions are combined in the proper way
they deliver a clean bright even tone of linear light from a very small
package. Remove any part of the triad and the system fails to deliver.
Put them in a different physical orientation and they fail to deliver.
Put their functions in a different order and they fail to deliver. Thus
the uniqueness and non-obviousness of the idea. A plurality of point
sources of light illuminating a clear optical waveguide which in turn
illuminates a optically diffusing waveguide delivering an even tone of
light in a very compact package.

[0017]An additional feature is available in the system that is the
addition of a fluorescent dye membrane to allow color conversion. How
this would work is that a fluorescent dyed membrane (item 18 in FIG. 11)
would be placed between the LEDs 14 and the clear rod 25. The light of a
particular hue or wavelength from the LEDs passes thru the fluorescent
membrane on its way to the rod. As it passes thru the membrane the
fluorescent dyes change a portion if the light to a lower energy level or
different wavelength. The result is that the light that exits the system
has a different hue or color than that of the light source. In this way a
large number of different colors can be achieved with one color of LED
and the proper mix of one or more fluorescent dyes. A very useful mix
attains a variety of shades of white light from warm to cool from a
string of blue LEDs and an orange fluorescent dye. with the light from
the light sources in its first step essentially all enters the
substantially clear rod, waveguides along the length of the rod then in
its second step the light exits out into the diffusing rod which in turn
emits a;